Electric heating unit



Ma 1931- c. M. BRODNAX ET AL ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Filed Oct. 9, 1929 Clarence OdhaX,

as h L o/ 2 L0,

Svwewtozs,

3513 rheirlbtolgkllg.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE M. BRODNAX AND JOSEPH LOIZZO, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Application filed October 9, 1929.

:0 tained between the element and its supporting means. A still further object is to provide a heater of simple, compact construction, attractive appearance, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and various other objects and ad vantages will be readily understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view,

Fig. 2 a bottom view,

Fig. 3 a rear end view, and

Fig. 4 a cross-sectional end view taken on line H in Fig. 1.

While the preferred embodiment described herein and shown on the drawing is particularly adapted for use in a steam radiator, it will be understood that we do not wish to limit the invention to any specific use but intend to employ itfor any purpose to which it can be adapted. It will also be seen that various modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring now to all the views, simultaneously, the heater consists of a tubular casing 10 sealed at its outer end 11 and welded, or otherwise suitably secured, in a fitting 12. This fitting, which in this particular case is provided with a hexagonal body 13 and a threaded portion 14, is provided with a circular recess 15. The outer end of this recess is provided with an internal thread in which a domed cap 16 fits.

The resistance element 17 which consists of a solid bar, is mounted between contact members 18 and 19. These members are U shaped, and cupped so as to provide a perfect 50 place by a screw 21 which also secures the Serial No. 398,376.

disc to a spacing rod 22. A tongue 23, formed on the contact member and engaging in a hole in the disc, locates the contact memher in its correct position.

The contact member 19 is secured on the end of a slidable, metal rod 24 by means of the nut 25. This rod is free to slide in the shouldered, insulating and heat resisting bushing 26 which is secured to the fitting 12 by screws 27 and 28. This bushing is also secured to the spacing rod 22 by means of the nut 29. The outer end of the slideable rod 24 is provided with a threaded portion on which a nut 30 is secured and with a guide rod 31 on which a compression'spring 32 is mounted. This spring is compressed between a washer 33 and an insulating disc 34 which is located in a seat formed in the cap 16. Vires 35 and 36, contained in the electric cord 37 ,are attached to the slideable rod 24 by means of the nut 30, and to the spacing rod 22 by means of the nut 29. A plurality of holes 38 are drilled in the cap 16.

lVhen the heater is in use the current passes through the wire 35, rod 24, contact member 19, resistance element 17, contact member 18, spacing rod 22, and wire 36, the resistance offered by the element causing this to heat and thus heat the casing, from which the heat is supplied to the liquid in which the heater is immersed.

By locating the compression spring as shown, it is not affected by the heat from the element; thus its eifetiveness is not destroyed, as would otherwise be the case. The air holes 38 further assist in keeping this spring cool. By using this spring proper contacts are always maintained between the element and the contact me .ibers, even should these fuse as is sometimes the case. The compression of the spring may be increased or decreased by turning the cap 16.

Having described our invention, what we claim asnew and wish to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric heater, a pipe fitting for attaching the heater to and supporting it in a radiator, a tubular casing adapted to extend transversely through the sections of a radiator, one end of said casing sealed and the other end secured in the said fitting, a resist ance bar supported between two contact members contained in said casing, said contact members secured on insulating discs, a spacing rod securing said discs in position, one of said contact members connecting the resistance bar with the spacing rod, and means for connecting said resistance bar and said spacing rod to an electric circuit.

2. In an electric heater, a pipe fitting for attaching the heater to and' supporting it in a radiator, a tubular casing adapted to extend transversely through the sections'of a radiator, one end of said casingsealed and the other end secured in the said fitting, a resistance bar supported between two contact members contained in said casing, said contact members secured on insulating discs, a spacing rod securing said discs in position, one of said contact members connecting the resistance bar with the spacing rod, the other contact member slideably mounted and actuated by a compression spring, and means for connecting said resistance bar and said spacing rod to an electric circuit.

3. In an electric heater, a pipe fitting for attaching the heaterto and supporting it in a radiator, a tubular casing adapted to extend transversely through the sections of a radiator, one end of said casing sealed and the other end secured in the said fitting, a resistance bar supported between two contact members contained in said casing, said contact members secured on insulating discs, a spacing rodsecuring said discs in position, one of said contact members connecting the resistance bar with the spacing rod, the other contact member slideab'ly mounted and actuated by acompression spring, said spring heatinsulated from the resistance bar by one of said discs, and 7 means for connecting said resistancebar and said spacing rod to an electric circuit.

4. In an electric heater, a pipe fitting for attaching the heater to and supporting it in a radiator, a tubular casing adapted to extend transversely through .the sections of a radiator', one end of said casing sealed'and the other end secured in the said fitting, a resist ance bar-supported between two contact members, said contact members secured to insulating discs, a spacing ,rod connecting said discs, one of said contact members connecting the resistance bar with the spacing rod, all of said aforementioned parts contained in the tubular casing, the other contact member slideably mounted in one of said discs and actuated by a compression spring, means for connecting said resistance bar and said spacing rod to an electric circuit, and all of said last-" rnentioned parts contained in the fitting soas to be heat-insulatedirom theresistaince bar.

CLARENCE M. .BEODNAX; aosnrnlioizzo, 

